SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 34

Thursday, April 26, 2001

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 34--CONGRATULATING THE BALTIC NATIONS OF ESTONIA, LATVIA, AND LITHUANIA ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REESTABLISHMENT OF THEIR FULL INDEPENDENCEHon. Ben Nighthorse Campbellof Colorado

Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. DODD, and Mr. VOINOVICH) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Con. Res. 34
Whereas the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were forcibly and illegally incorporated into the Soviet Union from 1940 until 1991;
Whereas from 1940 to 1991, thousands of Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians were executed, imprisoned, or exiled by Soviet authorities through a regime of brutal repression, Sovietization, and Russification in their respective nations;
Whereas despite the efforts of the Soviet Union to eradicate the memory of independence, the Baltic people never lost their hope for freedom and their long-held dream of full independence;
Whereas during the period of
"glasnost" and "perestroika" in the Soviet Union, the Baltic people led the struggle for democratic reform and national independence; and
Whereas, in the years following the restoration of full independence, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have demonstrated their commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and have actively participated in a wide range of international structures, pursuing further integration with European political, economic, and security organizations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress--
(1) congratulates Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the tenth anniversary of the restoration of their full independence; and
(2) calls on the President to continue to build the close and mutually beneficial relations the United States has enjoyed with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since the restoration of the full independence of those nations.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am joined by Senators DODD and VOINOVICH, fellow members of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, in submitting a Concurrent Resolution congratulating the people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the tenth anniversary of the restoration of their full independence. The resolution also calls on the President of the United States to build upon the close and mutually beneficial relations with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania that have existed since the restoration of their full independence.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the reestablishment of full independence to the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania after almost five decades of illegal and brutal incorporation into the Soviet Union. The Baltic nations were independent between World War I and World War II. Their freedom and independence were stolen from them in a secret deal struck between Hitler and Stalin.
During the Soviet era, thousands of Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians were executed, imprisoned or exiled by the Soviet regime as Moscow attempted to repress any resistance to its rule. Besides physically persecuting individuals, the Soviet Union also tried to destroy the rich heritage of the Baltic people, by degrading their culture and attempting to replace their native languages with Russian.
It didn't work. The Baltic people never gave up their hope for freedom and their long-held dream of independence.
Moreover, during the Soviet period of "glasnost" and "perestroika," the Baltic people led the struggle for democratic reform and national consciousness. In the ten years following the restoration of their full independence, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have demonstrated their commitment to democracy, human rights, and rule of law at home. At the same time, they have actively participated in a wide range of international structures, while pursuing further integration into European political, economic and security organizations.
Earlier today I had the pleasure to meet with President Vike-Freiberga of Latvia, in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. I was joined by Co-Chairman CHRIS SMITH and fellow Commissioner ZACH WAMP. President Vike-Freiberga struck us as an impressive leader during our wide-ranging discussion of Euro-Atlantic cooperation and Latvia's development since the restoration of independence. Therefore, it is fitting that we introduce this resolution today, coinciding with President Vike-Freiberga's working visit to Washington.
I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this resolution.

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